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List of The Specials band members

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The Specials performing in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2022

The Specials were an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry.[1] The bands first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horns.

By the time the band disbanded in 2022, they consisted of Hall (who had recently died), Golding and Panter, alongside keyboardist Nikolaj Torp Larsen and trombonist Tim Smart (both since 2008), lead guitarist Steve Cradock and trumpeter Pablo Mendelssohn (both since 2014), drummer Kendrick Rowe (since 2019), vocalist Hannah Hu and rhythm guitarist Stan Samuel (both since 2021).

History

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The group was formed in 1977 by songwriter/keyboardist Dammers, vocalist Tim Strickland, guitarist/vocalist Lynval Golding, drummer Silverton Hutchinson and bassist Horace Panter (a.k.a. Sir Horace Gentleman). Strickland was replaced by Terry Hall shortly after the band's formation. The band was first called the Automatics, then the Coventry Automatics.[2] Guitarist Roddy Byers (usually known as Roddy Radiation) agreed to join the band in March 1978 ahead of a recording session of demos.[3] During the tour Neville Staple, who was initially one of the roadies, became a full member of The Specials.[4] In 1979, drummer Hutchinson left the band and was replaced by John Bradbury. Horn players Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez also joined the band at the same time.

In 1981 Staple, Hall and Golding all left the band.[5][6] Rodriguez and Panter also stopped performing with the band. Rhoda Dakar (previously a backing vocalist) joined as permanent vocalist, alongside John Shipley (from the Swinging Cats) on guitar, and Nicky Summers on bass. Rodriguez and Panter returned to the band for touring. After touring, Dakar briefly departed the band were briefly joined by Satch Dickson and Groco (percussion) and Anthony Wymshurst (guitar). Dakar soon returned alongside new co-vocalists Egidio Newton and Stan Campbell, as well as violinist Nick Parker. The new line-up (still known as the Special AKA) finally issued a new full-length album In the Studio in 1984. Officially, the band was now a sextet: Dakar, Campbell, Bradbury, Dammers, Shipley and new bassist Gary McManus. Dammers then dissolved the band and pursued political activism.[7]

The first reunion under the Specials name occurred in 1993. Participants were Radiation, Staple, Golding and Panter, they were also joined by Aitch Bembridge of The Selecter on drums, and keyboardist Mark Adams.[8] The band fully reunited in 1996, again with Bembridge and Adams and horn players Adam Birch and Jon Read, after successful touring the band stopped performing in 1998. The band returned in 2000 with Staple, Panter and Byers, featuring The Selecter's Neol Davies in place of Golding as well as Anthony Harty on drums, Justin Dodsworth on keyboards, Steve Holdway on trombone, Paul Daleman on trumpet, and Leigh Malin on tenor saxophone.

In 2008, Terry Hall reunited with the band, alongside Staple, Panter, Golding, Byers, Bradbury,[9] Birch and Read, and new members Nikolaj Torp Larsen (keyboards),[10] Drew Stansall (saxophone) and Tim Smart (trombone).[11] Birch had departed by 2010. Staple departed in January 2013, due to personal reasons.[12] Byers also departed in February 2014.[13] He was replaced by Steve Cradock.[14] The band were also joined by Pablo Mandleson on trumpet around the same time. On 28 December 2015, drummer Bradbury died.[15] he was replaced by Libertines drummer Gary Powell.[16] In 2019, Kenrick Rowe replaced Powell.[17] Stansall also departed. Sid Gauld briefly replaced Mandleson in 2021.[18] Also in 2021 Stan Samuel joined the band on rhythm guitar,[19] and Hannah Hu also joined on second vocals.[20]

On 19 December 2022, Terry Hall died.[21] Panter confirmed the end of the band in November 2023.[22]

Members

[edit]
Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Jerry Dammers djs at Bom-Banes.jpg
Jerry Dammers
  • 1977–1981
  • 1981–1984
  • keyboards
  • principal songwriter
  • vocals
Horace Panter 2019.png
Horace Panter
  • 1977–1981
  • 1982
  • 1993
  • 1994–1998
  • 2000–2001
  • 2008–2022
bass guitar all The Specials releases
Lynval Golding.jpg
Lynval Golding
  • 1977–1981
  • 1993
  • 1994–1998
  • 2008–2022
  • vocals
  • rhythm and lead guitar
  • harmonica
all releases except Skinhead Girl (2000) and Conquering Ruler (2001)
Silverton Hutchinson 1977–1979 drums none
Tim Strickland 1977 lead vocals
Terry Hall.jpg
Terry Hall
  • 1977–1981
  • 2008–2022 (until his death)
  • all releases from The Specials (1979) to More Specials (1980)
  • BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1992)
  • Live – Too Much Too Young (1992)
  • Live at the Moonlight Club (1992)
  • Blue Plate Specials Live (1999)
  • More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012)
  • Encore (2019)
  • Protest Songs 1924–2012 (2021)
Roddy Radiation.JPG
Roddy "Radiation" Byers
  • 1978–1981
  • 1993
  • 1996–2001
  • 2008–2014
  • lead guitar
  • vocals
all releases from The Specials (1979) to More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012)
Neville Staple (9659367555).jpg
Neville Staple
  • 1978–1981
  • 1993
  • 1996–2001
  • 2008–2012
  • toasting
  • vocals
  • percussion
all releases from The Specials (1979) to More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012), except In the Studio (1984)
John (Brad) Bradbury.jpg
John Bradbury
  • 1979–1984
  • 2008–2015 (until his death)
drums
  • all releases from The Specials (1979) to In the Studio (1984)
  • BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1992)
  • Live – Too Much Too Young (1992)
  • Live at the Moonlight Club (1992)
  • Blue Plate Specials Live (1999)
  • More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012)
  • Encore (2019) some live tracks
Dick Cuthell 1979–1984
  • flugelhorn
  • trumpet
all releases from The Specials (1979) to In the Studio (1984)
Rico_-_rest_in_peace,_brother!.jpg
Rico Rodriguez
  • 1979–1981
  • 1982 (died 2015)
  • trombone
  • vocals
Rhoda_Dakar_(53187208102).jpg
Rhoda Dakar
  • 1981–1982
  • 1982–1984
vocals
  • More Specials (1980)
  • In the Studio (1984)
Stan Campbell 1982–1984 In the Studio (1984)
John Shipley 1981–1984 guitar
Anthony Wimshurst 1982 none
Satch Dixon percussion
Tony 'Groco' Uter
Egidio Newton 1982–1983
  • vocals
  • percussion
In the Studio (1984)
Nick Parker 1982 violin
Gary McManus 1983–1984 bass guitar
Mark Adams
  • 1993
  • 1994–1998
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Aitch Bembridge
  • drums
  • backing vocals
Jon Read
  • 1996–1998
  • 2008–2014
  • trumpet
  • percussion
  • bass guitar
  • accordion
Adam Birch
  • 1996–1998
  • 2008–2010
  • trumpet
  • trombone
  • backing vocals
  • Guilty 'til Proved Innocent! (1998)
  • Ghost Town Live (1999)
Kendell Smith 1998 vocals none
Neol Davies (cropped).jpg
Neol Davies 2000–2001
  • rhythm guitar
  • vocals
  • Skinhead Girl (2000)
  • Conquering Ruler (2001)
Justin Dodsworth keyboards
Nine Below Zero live at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds 1st December 2023 - 53434026263.jpg
Anthony Harty
  • drums
  • percussion
Paul Daleman trumpet
Leigh Malin tenor saxophone
Steve Holdway trombone
Tim Smart 2008–2022
  • Encore (2019)
  • Protest Songs 1924–2012 (2021)
  • More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012)
Nikolaj-Torp-Larsen.jpg
Nikolaj Torp Larsen
  • keyboards
  • vocals
Drew Stansall 2008–2012
  • saxophone
  • flute
More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012)
Steve Cradock 2017.png
Steve Cradock 2014–2022
  • lead guitar
  • vocals
  • Encore (2019)
  • Protest Songs 1924–2012 (2021)
Pablo Mendelssohn
  • trumpet
  • flugelhorn
Gary p.JPG
Gary Powell 2016–2019 drums Encore (2019) some live tracks
Kenrick Rowe 2019–2022
  • Encore (2019)
  • Protest Songs 1924–2012 (2021)
Hannah Hu 2021–2022 vocals Protest Songs 1924–2012 (2021)
Stan Samuel rhythm guitar none
Sid Gauld 2021 trumpet

Timeline

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References

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  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 519. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ "The Specials.com". Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. ^ Marshall, George (1990). The Two Tone Story. Scotland: S.T. Publishing. ISBN 9780951849736.
  4. ^ Marshall, George (1990). The Two Tone Story. Scotland: S.T. Publishing. ISBN 9780951849736.
  5. ^ Petridis, Alexis (8 March 2002). "The Specials and the story of the UK's most remarkable chart-topper". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 519. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 914–915. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  8. ^ Original Rude Boy: From Borstal to the Specials by Neville Staple with Tony McMahon; Chapter 4: The Specials – The Rude Boys Arrive
  9. ^ Swash, Rosie (2008-12-02). "The Specials reunite for 2009 tour". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  10. ^ Ferguson, Euan (2009-04-25). "Done too much? Some of us couldn't get enough". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  11. ^ Bass, Marco On The (2010-05-08). "Marco On The Bass: Haiti Special - The Specials Re-release 'Message To You Rudy' To Raise Money for Haitian Earthquake Relief". Marco On The Bass. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  12. ^ "Grapevine". The Specials. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  13. ^ Chambers, Pete (7 February 2014). "Specials lead guitarist Roddy 'Radiation' Byers leaves the band". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  14. ^ Colios, Willow (18 March 2014). "Steve Cradock joins The Specials for November UK tour". Louder than War. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  15. ^ "John Bradbury, Drummer for the Specials, Dies at 62". The New York Times. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  16. ^ "New Touring Line Up". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  17. ^ Sawyer, Miranda (2019-02-03). "The Specials: 'Respect people. Be kind to people. What else have we got?'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  18. ^ Linazasoro, Nick (2021-09-05). "First full capacity Brighton Centre gig in 18 months". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  19. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  20. ^ Welford, Gary (2021-10-04). "The Specials are still getting their message across with new album Protest Songs |". Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  21. ^ Trendell, Andrew (19 December 2022). "The Specials' Terry Hall has died, aged 63". NME. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  22. ^ Rider, Alan (November 2023). "The Art of Being A Special - Former Specials bassist Horace Panter talks expansively to Alan Rider about losing Terry Hall, life after The Specials, flat art, the Dirt Road Band, selfie culture, and extreme calligraphy". outsideleft.com. Retrieved 2024-06-14.